Originally Posted by Vic_in_Va
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Actually Lee lost the battle by not listening to Longstreet. It was folly to charge up a long hill with no cover against entrenched enemies. Longstreet suggested pulling out of Gettysburg, marching toward Washington DC, positioning on a hill there, and letting the Union attack up hill against the Confederates. There was nothing of any value in Gettysburg except a northern army on the nearby hills. Instead, Lee ordered the famous "Pickett's" charge.


I agree. Longstreet wanted no part of that charge.


Agreed! Lee had 80,000 men at Gettysburg but only used less than 2/3 of his forces in an attempt to take Cemetery Hill! In all of his battles to that date his strategy had been on flanking movements instead of a direct charge and why he deviated here is a mystery? Longstreet wanted to circumvent the Round Tops and hit the Union supply train which were slightly east of Big Round Top and this would have been a flanking movement but Lee's idea persisted! General Lee's idea of 'rolling up' the Union line was to be done by his advancing lines with the southern end gradually curving to the northeast. Sad thing is....most were shot down in this attempt! The Union had sharpshooters and a battery of artillery atop Big Round Top which took a toll on the Confederate forces. Lee didn't have the best intell either as his main source of information concerning Union strength was to come from General JEB Stuart who was making a ride around the Union Army. He didn't arrive in time and Lee was basically operating blind! Personally I think General Lee under-estimated his enemy....and over-estimated the ability of his forces!

Even birds know not to land downwind!